Matthew 24

TEXTMatt. 24

INTRODUCTION:

A.      MUCH CONFUSION - MUCH FALSE TEACHING.

B.      WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL( Matt. 14:4-5 ).

I.      CONTEXT:

A.      UPBRAIDING THE JEWS( ch. 23:29-39 ).

B.      JESUS' REMARK ABOUT THE TEMPLE( 24:1-2 ).

C.      3 PART QUESTION( vs. 3 ).  2 QUESTIONS - DISCIPLES DON'T KNOW IT.

D.      STERN WARNING OF JESUS( vs. 4-5 ).  THEN HE ANSWERS.

II.     FALSE SIGNS - LEAD TO PERIOD OF SUFFERING - NOT

        "THE END."(vs.6).

A.      FALSE SIGNS:

          1.       False prophets( vs. 5 ).

          2.       Wars and rumors of wars( vs. 6 ).                        vs. 6

          3.       Famines and earthquakes( vs. 7 ).                         Great persecution,

          4.       Delivered up, persecution.                                     but not at "the end."

          5.       Apostasy( vs. 14-15 ).

B.      THE POINT - GOD DEMANDS FAITHFULNESS( vs. 13 ).

C.      SIGNS OF THE END( vs. 14-15 ).

          1.       Gospel preached everywhere( Col. 1:6, 23 ).

          2.       Abomination of desolation - Daniel( Dan. 11:31;  12:11 ).

                             - explained( Luke 21:20 ).

          3.       "This generation"( vs. 34 ).  Say more later.

III.    INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE TIME( vs. 16-28 ).

A.      FLEE TO THE MOUNTAINS ( vs. 16 ).

B.      LEAVE BEHIND MATERIAL THINGS( vs. 17-18 ).

C.      WOE TO THOSE WITH SMALL ONES( vs. 19 ).

D.      PRAY FOR GOOD CONDITIONS ( vs. 20 ).  WHY?  WHAT DIFFERENCE

          WOULD IT MAKE AT THE SECOND COMING?.

                   - Time of great stress, shortened for the faithful's sake.

E.      BE SKEPTICAL OF PROPHETS OF THAT TIME( vs. 23-26 ).

          1.       All will see.

          2.       The vultures will be gathered.

IV.   JUDGMENT OF THE WICKED - SYMBOLIC( vs. 25-31 ).

A.      IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWS STRESSFUL TIME( vs. 29 ).

B.      TERRIBLE EVENTS - JUDGMENT LANGUAGE( Isa. 13:10;  24:23; 

          Joel 2:10, 31;  3:15;  Acts 2:16-20 ).

C.      SON OF MAN'S COMING:

          1.       Isa. 19:1;  Ez. 32:7;  34:12;  Matt. 26:64.

          2.       Saints redemption from trial( Luke 21:25-28;  Matt. 24:16-28 ).

D.      AFFIRMATION OF SIGNS( vs. 32-34 ).

          1.       Signs likened to signs of nature - Show nearness.

          2.       "This generation"( Matt. 1:15;  11:16;  12:39;  10:23;  23:29-37;  16:28; 

                   Mk. 9:1 ).

V.    SUBJECT CHANGE - SECOND QUESTION( vs. 35ff. ).

A.      vs. 36         WHAT DAY?  NO ONE KNOWS!

B.      THE SIGNS OF THAT OTHER DAY:

          1.       The sign of Noah - No Sign! except for Noah's preaching.

          2.       vs. 40-42.  Context:  Prepared vs. unprepared, some ready, some not.

                   Point:  No Signs - watching must be continuous( 1 Thes. 5:1-3 ).

          3.       vs. 43-44.  Likened to a thief coming - CONSTANT VIGILANCE!

C.      PARABLES OF THE SECOND COMING FOLLOW.

CONCLUSIONARE YOU READY?